Clasp-suspension coupling



w. s. PAINTER 2,192,604

CLASP-SUSPENSION COUPLING March 5, 1940.

Fi'led Feb. 18, 1939 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 UNITE STATES 2,192,604 CLASP-SUSPENSION COUPLING Walter S. Painter, Middlebury, Conn., assignor to Waterbury Buckle Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of .Connecticut appnation February 18, 1939, serial No. y,257,161 9 Claims. (c1. 24e-25s) This invention relates to suspension-couplings for clasps and more especially to suspensionlcouplings of a type suitable for connecting garment-clasps to Suspenders, garters, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a suspension-coupling of improved construction suitable for various kinds of clasps which `itate the attachment of suspension-loops thereto and thereby to eiect a reduction in manufacturing costs during the assembly stage in quantity production.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved suspension-coupling for clasps of the character referred to and comprising detachably-connected suspension-loop-and-clasp members to permit the latter to' be separated from the former for separate manipulation when the suspension-loop is more or less permanently connected up with a strap, fabric, or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved vsuspension-clasp construction in which the clasp is detachably connected to a suspension-loop by means of a coupling which retains the clasp and suspension-loop in xed relation.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all featuresin the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

In the accompanying drawing: i

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a clasp of suitable form to have the present invention adapted thereto, the clasp being shown in gripping relation to a garment to be supported and having its suspension-loop attached to a supporting-Web or strap;

Fig. 2 is a View inside elevation of the assembly shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical medial section of the same taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan View of the clasp, corresponding to line 4 4 of Fig. 5, with the laterally-spaced coupling-bars of the' suspensionloop shown in section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the 'line 5 5 of `Fig.'2;

Fig.'6 is a View similark to Fig. 5 withthe suspension-loop shown in process of being disassembledfrom the clasp;

Fig. "1 is a perspective View ofthe grippermounting frame or yoke, detached;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the suspension-r. 5 loop,detached; and y y v Fig. 9 is a perspective view of` the 'U-loop' gripper-spring, detached.

The clasp may be of any .desired construction suitable for adaptation to the purposes of the `10 present invention and, in the form. herein shown ior illustration, comprises a gripper-mounting frame or yoke generally designated by the referencecharacter Il); a U-loop gripper-spring generally designated by. the reference characterl II; and a suspension-loop generally designated by the reference character I2.

. As shownv particularly Well in Fig. 7, the frame or yoke I0 comprises a relatively-large disk-like back plate I3; a substantially-rectangular front,.20 plater I4; and an arcuate top wall I5 which is integrally formed With and unites the front plate I4 to the back plate I3. The front plate I4 is provided with an opening i6 extending therethrough to accommodate a gripperoperating25 lever and, at the lower edge of the said opening, with laterally-spaced trunnion-sockets l1-I 1. The gripper-operating lever is in the form of a bent lever which is generally designated by the reference character I8 and provided with trun- 30 nions ISI-I9 Which are pivotally mounted in the`rtrunnion-sockets I'I-ILrespectively The bent lever I8 comprises, With its trunnions Ill-I9, an operating-arm 20 and a gripper-actuating arm 2 I. y 35 The gripper-spring II comprises a rear gripper-spring arm 22; a front gripper-spring arm 23; anda U-bend 24 which is integrally -formed with `and constitutes a connecting wall between the rear and front gripper-spring arms 22 vanda() 23, respectively. As shown particularlywell. in Figs. 2 and 3, in'l the assembled positions of the parts of theV clasp, the rU-loop gripper-spring II is arranged `between the backplate I3 and the front plate |4445 of the frame or yoke IU, with .the rear gripperspring arm 22 seated upon the back plate I3 and the front gripper-spring arm 23 in atwise engagement with the front plate I4 of the vframe or yoke. I0, as y,shown indotted lines lin `Fig'. 3.50 when the operating-arm 20 is moved outwardly into dotted-line position as shown in this figure. According to the embodied form of the clasp shown on the'drawing, the gripper-spring II is constructed equal` in `width to the front plate 1 I4, 55

of the yoke or frame lll and, as shown especially well in Figs. 5 and 6, the said gripper-spring is arranged with the U-bend 24 therein in engagement with the arcuate top wall l5 of the frame or yoke IU, and with the lateral edges of the front gripper-spring arm 23 arranged flush with the lateral edges of the front plate it of the frame or yoke IU. It will be understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 that, as the operating-arm 20 is moved about its trunnions from its dotted-line position shown in Fig. 3 to the fullline position shown in the said figure, the actuating-arm 2l of the bent lever i8 is caused to wipe over the front gripper-spring arm 23 and to de-` press it into gripping engagement with a garment or fabric 25, Which is thereby gripped between the spring-gripper arms 22 and 23.

As shown in Fig. 7, the arched top wall l5 of' the gripper-frame is provided with oppositelyfacing coupling-sockets 21e-26. As shown in Fig. 9, the U-loop gripper-spring H is provided in the arched wall 24 thereof with oppositelyfacing coupling-sockets 2li-2l. In the assembled position of the parts, as shown exceptionally well in Figs. 5 and 6, the coupling-sockets 25 and 21 are in vertical 'alignment in substantially a vertical plane of suspension, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. 8, the suspension-loop l2 comprises a transverse suspension-bar 28 Which, at opposite ends thereof, is connected by outwardly-bowed side-reaches Eil- '29 to inwardly-extending intermediate limbs S--SQ which are arranged substantially in alignment below the suspension-bar 28. Integrally united to the inner ends of the intermediate limbs .3E-33, by means of rounded elbows 3i-ll, are oppositelyarranged coupling-arms generally designated by the reference character Sli-32. The said coupling-arms 32-32 comprise laterally-spaced vertical coupling-bars 33--33 which are constructed and arranged to snugly interiit with the coupling-sockets 2S and 2l .formed in opposite edges of the arched walls l5 and 24, and clasp-suspending fingers 34--3 which are constructed and arranged to project inwardly into supportable engagement with the suspension-portion of the clasp comprising arched wall 2d of the U-loop gripper-spring Il and arcuate wall l5 of the frame or yoke IU. The coupling-bars 33-33 are laterally offset outwardly from the rounded elbows 3I-3l to provide coupling-recesses 35-35 extending between the clasp-supporting iingers 34-34, and laterally-spaced detent-shoulders 31-31.

From the foregoing, it will now be readily understood that the operation of assembling the clasps and suspension-loops therefor is rendered simple, facile and rapid.

For example, the gripper-frame or yoke lll may be grasped between' the thumb and iingers of the left hand, and While the said frame or yoke is held in a vertical position, such as that represented in Fig. 6, the suspension-loop l2, arranged in the mannershown in Fig. 6, may be moved from left to right, with the inturned clasp-supporting ngers Sil- 34 moving transversely of and within and without the arched walls I5 and 2li, respectively. As the right-hand clasp-suspending finger 3ft passes beyond the coupling-sockets 26 and 27 at the right, the suspension-loop l2 may be tilted in a clockwise direction for the purpose of seating the couplingsockets 26 and 2'! within the right-hand coupling-recess 35. While applying pressure to the right-hand clasp-engaging arm 32, to retain the right-hand coupling-bar 33 in pivotal relation to the coupling-sockets 26 and 2l' at the right, the left-hand side-reach portion 29 of the suspension-loop may be grasped between the ngers and thumb of the left hand to move the rounded inner surface of the elbow 3| at the left into camming engagement with the outer corner of the coupling-socket 2l formed in the left edge of the arched Wall 24 of the gripper-spring Il. A continuation of this clockwise tilting movement of the suspension-loop l2 about the right-hand coupling-sockets 26 and 2'! serves to spring the left-hand clasp-engaging arm 32 outwardly until the detent 37 at the left hand snaps over the inner edge of coupling-recess 25 at the top under the inherent resilience of the metal of which the suspension-loop l2 is constructed.

As shown particularly well in Figs. 5 and 6, in its assembled position with respect to the clasp, the suspension-loop l2 is releasably coupled to the clasp and, normally, retained in immobile relation thereto in a common plane of suspension extending midway between and substantially parallel to the front and back plates M and I3 of the clasp. It is to be noted that in this assembled relationship of the parts, the suspensionloop l2 is held against forward or backward tilting movement from the common suspension plane by the interlocking coupling-connection between the coupling-side-bars 33-33 and the couplingsockets 26, 27 at opposite sidesof the pendantclasp at the top.

The clasp-suspending ngers Srl-34 are constructed and arranged to engage the under surface of the return-bend 24 of the gripper-spring il to prevent the downward displacement of the clasp from the suspension-loop l2 in the direction in which it is normally under stress. On the other hand, for the purpose of preventing an accidental downward dislodgment of either` of the suspension-fingers Sli-3d from supportable engagement with the clasp, the oppositelydisposed detent-shoulders 3`l-3l are arranged to snap into engagement with opposite edges of the arcuate top wall l5 of frame il). .245

As shown particularly well in Fig. 5, the coupling-bars 33--33 together with the suspensionringers 313-34 immediately below, and the detentshoulders 3?-37 immediately above, provide coupling-recesses 35-35, wherein, under all normalconditions, the arcuate top wall I5 and returnbend 24, which constitute the suspension-portion of the clasp, are normally interlocked with the suspension-loop I2 against unintentional or accidental tilting displacement in lateral, as Wellr;n

as in forward and rearward, directions. For this purpose, the suspension-loop l2 is made sufficiently inflexible to retain the clasp and suspension-loop in immobile relation to each other under the usual stresses to which they are sub-if jected when in `use but suiliciently exible to permit either detent-shoulder 3T to be wedged outwardly by an intentional forcible displacement thereof past the coupling-sockets 26, 2'I

when it is desired to remove the clasp from its@ at least one of said arched walls being provided with coupling-sockets; and a suspension-loop provided with coupling-arms comprising laterally-spaced coupling-bars provided with inwardly-facing coupling-recesses constructed and arranged to interlock with the said coupling-sock- `ets of the gripper-frame, and inturned claspsuspending lingers in supporting .engagement with one of said arched walls.

2. In combination with a pendant-clasp provided with laterally-spaced coupling-sockets arranged in a common vertical plane of the clasp at the top; a suspension-loop having oppositelyarranged coupling-arms arranged in a common plane and comprising coaXially-arranged claspsuspending fingers constructed and arranged to interengage with the clasp at the top and laterally-spaced coupling-bars constructed and arranged to interlock with the said couplingsockets the pendant-clasp to retain the clasp and suspension-loop in xed relation to each other in respect to relative lateral displacement therebetween, as well as in respect toy relative forward and rearward movements oi one with respect to the other.

3. In combination with a clasp having an arched suspension-wall provided with oppositely- Apresented coupling-notches in opposite lateral edges thereof; a suspension-loop comprising va horizontal suspension-bar; outwardly-bowed side-reaches depending therefrom at opposite ends, aligned horizontal limbs extending inwardly from the lower ends of said side-reaches; elbows arranged at the inner ends of said horizontal limbs to have camming engagement with the said coupling-notches, respectively; parallel coupling-bars depending from and outwardly offset from said 4elbows to provide detent-shoulders at the upper ends of the former; and inturned terminal portions constructed and arranged to suspensibly interengage with opposite side-edges of the arched suspension-wall.

4. In combination with a suspension-clasp comprising front and back plates and an arched connecting-wall provided with oppositely-presented coupling-sockets arranged in a common plane substantially midway between the front and back plates of the clasp; a suspension-loop comprising a suspension-bar; outwardly-bowed side-reaches at the outer ends of the said suspension-bar; and coupling-arms depending from the said bowed side-reaches and comprising intermediate vertical portions constructed and arranged to have interlocking engagement with the coupling-sockets in the arched connectingwall of the suspension-clasp; and inturned claspsuspending iingers constructed and arranged to supportably engage the suspension-clasp below the said coupling-sockets; the said intermediate portions of the coupling-arms being provided with inwardly-presented detent-shoulders at the upper ends of said coupling-recesses; the said suspension-loop being constructed of material suflciently resilient to permit the outward dis- 4stantially in a common plane of suspension exn below the coupling-sockets therein for retaining placement of one of the clasp-supporting arms relativelyto the other to-permit a tilting-mov-ement of the suspension-clasp about the-opposite coupling-recess and a subsequent lateral-movement of the arched connecting-wall to disengage 6 it from the coupling-recess about which the tilting-movement occurs; the said coupling-arms being constructed and-arranged to provide an intervening gap between the clasp-supportng'ngers of sufficient width to permit the detachment L10 of the arched connecting-wall from the said suspension-loop by a lateral-movement iv the op# posite direction.

5. In combination-with a clasp having a gripper-frame comprising a front plate, a back plata-15 and an arched wall integrally uniting said front .and back plates; a U-loop gripper-spring cornprising a front gripper-arm, a back gripper-arm and an arched wall integrally uniting said gripper-arms; said U-loop gripper-spring being in-SQ terposed between the front and back plates of said gripper-frame with itsarched wall nested within th-e said arched wall oi the gripper-frame;

at least one of lsaid arched walls being provided with coupling-sockets presented in opposite di-m rections substantially in a plane of suspension extending between andv in substantial parallelism with the front and back plates of the.: gripperframe; and a suspension-loop comprising la transverse suspension-bar, laterally-spaced inso termediate ylimbs arranged in alignment below and integrally united to the said suspension-bar by outwardly-bowed side-reaches to provide clearance-spaces for the transverse tiltingmovement of vthe said arched wall about one or thef other of its lateral edges during the detachment of the suspension-loop from the clasp, laterallyspaced. coupling-bars depending from the spaced innerends of the said intermediate limbs and provided with inwardly-facing coupling-recessesMo constructed and arranged to interlockwith the said coupling-sockets of the gripper-irameA and inturned clasp-suspending iingers invsupporting engagement with at least one of said arched walls at opposite lateral edges thereof, the said coupling-bars being united to the inner ends of the said intermediate limbs of the suspension-loop by rounded elbows constructed and arranged for camming engagement with the said couplingsockets during the assembling and disassembling of the clasp and suspension-loop.

6. In combination with a pendant-clasp having front, back, and'arched top-wall portions, said pendant-clasp being provided at the top and subtending midway between and in parallelism with the front and back portions thereof, with outwardly-presented coupling-sockets; anda suspension-loop therefor provided with laterallyspaced coupling-arms` including coupling-bars constructed kand arranged to have interlocking connection with the said coupling-sockets of the pendant-clasp and inturned clasp-suspending fingers to supportably-engage the pendant-clasp the pendant-clasp against downward displacementv relatively to the said coupling-loop; the said coupling-bars being provided With inwardly-v presented detent-shoulders constructed and arranged to engage the pendant-clasp at the top to prevent relative upward displacement of the pendant-clasp with respect to the suspensionngers.

'1. In combination with a pendant-clasp provided at the top with laterally-spaced outwardlyu presented coupling-sockets arranged in a common plane of suspension extending in parallelism with and intermediately of the front and rear portions of the said pendant-clasp; a suspensionloop therefor having a substantially-inexible suspension-bar with oppositely arranged coupling-arms depending therefrom substantially in the common plane of suspension and comprising side-bars constructed and arranged to have inflexible coupling connection with the couplingsockets of the pendant-clasp and inturned claspsupporting fingers in laterally-spaced alinement with each other and constructed and arranged to provide a clearance space through which the coupling-sockets of the pendant-clasp are movable into and out of position within the suspension-loop when the latter is in a laterally-tilted position with respectl to the former for detachably connecting the pendant-clasp and the suspension-loop therefor.

8. In combination with a pendant-clasp comprising: a frame having front and back plates integrally united by an arched wall at the top and a U-loop gripper-spring interposed between the front and back plates of said frame with its return-bend arranged adjacent the arched Wall thereof; the said arched wall of the frame and the return bend of the U-loop gripper-spring being provided with oppositely-presented vertically-aligned coupling-sockets arranged in a common plane of suspension extending between and in parallelism with the front and back plates of said frame; a suspension-loop therefor having a normally inflexible suspension-bar and oppositely-arranged depending coupling-arms disposed substantially in the common plane of suspension and comprising oppositely-arranged coupling side-bars constructed to interlock with the vertically-aligned coupling-sockets at opposite sides of the frame and U-loop gripper-spring,

and inturned suspension-lingers in supportable engagement With the under-surface of the return-bend of the U-loop gripper-spring.

9. In combination with a pendant-clasp having a frame comprising a front plate, a back plate, and an arched wall integrally uniting said front and back plates; a U-loop gripper-spring a1'- ranged between the front and back plates of the frame of said clasp with the return-bend thereof arranged in close juxtaposition to the arched wall of the frame; the arched wall of the frame and the return-bend of the U-loop gripper-spring being provided at opposite edges of the pendantclasp with vertically-aligned coupling-sockets arranged in a common plane of suspension extending between and in parallelism with the front and back plates of the frame of said clasp; and a suspension-loop for the pendant-clasp, comprising: a transverse suspension-bar; outwardlybowed side-reaches depending at opposite ends from said suspension-bar; intermediate limbs extending inwardly from the lower end of the said side-reaches and in alignment with each other; and laterally-spaced coupling-arms depending from the inner ends of the said limbs, respectively, and having parallel coupling-bars constructed and arranged to interlock with the coupling-socket of said pendant-clasp, and inwardly-presented clasp-supporting iingers to engage the under-surface of the return-bend of the U-loop gripper-spring; the said coupling-bars being integrally-united to the said limbs by elbows provided with inwardly-presented detentshoulders at the top of said coupling-bar for snap-lock engagement with the arched wall of the clasp frame; the said elbows being constructed and arranged to have camming-engagement with the coupling-sockets in said arched Wall and return-bend on one or the other side of the clasp when the coupling-sockets on the opposite side thereof are movably disposed in engagement with the opposite coupling-bar.

WALTER S. PAINTER. 

